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"It was very emotional meeting the people who saved your daughter's life," she said.

She described their doctor at the Rosie Hospital as "our god", adding "we owe him everything".

Matilda still has MRI scans and will have check-ups until she is 18 years old.

Matilda Norey, who did not breathe for 22 minutes after she was born was saved by a team of doctors who refused to give up (Image: Family handout/PA Wire)

"We never get too ahead of ourselves, we know she's not out the woods yet and there may be health problems which emerge later," said Mrs Norey. "But at the end of the day, Matilda shouldn't even be alive.

"She defied the odds and proved everyone wrong.

"She is here with us, and we could never be more thankful for that."

The family have praised charity The Sick Children's Trust, which provided them with a room at its Chestnut House, which enabled them to be at Matilda's bedside while she was at the Rosie Hospital.

And they have now held a second christening at home, to replace the "harrowing" memory of the emergency christening where they feared the worst.